Washington, DC-March 13- Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight Chairman William Delahunt (D-MA) has granted the request of Ranking Member, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), to proceed with hearings to explore possible foreign influence in the ruthless prosecution of Border Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. Ramos and Compean were convicted of violating an illegal Mexican drug smuggler’s civil rights during a shooting incident along the Texas/Mexico border in Feb 2005.

“I commend Chairman Delahunt for his willingness to pursue this issue,” says Rohrabacher. “This hearing will permit us to conduct an official investigation into aspects of the Ramos and Compean prosecution and others cases where a pattern of questionable foreign influence seems to exist.

“I hope this Administration will more forthright and cooperative than they have been thus far considering all of our requests for information will now be a part of an official subcommittee investigation, culminating with hearings,” Rohrabacher says. “If a foreign government is having an undue influence on the decisions of our government to make concessions for illegal aliens over our law enforcement officers, the American people have a right to know about it.”

Ramos and Compean are currently serving 11 and 12 year prison terms while the illegal alien drug smuggler remains free after being granted immunity to testify against the agents. He is presently suing the U.S. government for $5 million for violating his civil rights.